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Swim Lessons

Did you know that the YMCA operates and owns more swimming pools than any other organization in the country? Over decades of hard work the Y has taught millions of children and adults how to swim; we ARE America's swim instructors.

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among kids aged 1-4, and 88% of children who drown are under some form of supervision. That's why we feel it is so important for children and adults to learn water safety, and we offer lessons to people of all ages and stages.

What we find most important is ensuring the lessons learned in the pool are applicable on dry land. For more than 160 years, the YMCA has nurtured communities across America to create lasting, meaningful change. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is to teach youth, teens, and adults to swim so that they can stay safe around water and learn the skills they need to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for staying healthy, but also to build their confidence in ways that extend beyond the pool.

Our Y swim instructors are nationally certified. Their training includes CPR, AED, first aid and oxygen administration. Swim lessons provide important life skills that could save a life and will benefit students for a lifetime.

Documents to help with choosing the right swim level:

Parent-Child Swim Lessons (ages 6 months-3 years)

Children enjoy the many water-readiness activities provided by our YMCA aquatics instructors. This is one of the most important skills every child should master - feeling safe in the water. Children progress from water adjustment to basic skills while working with parents. One adult must be in the water with their child at all times.

This class, designed for children ages 2 to 3, adapts basic swimming skills to your child's developmental level including: body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatics skills. One adult must be in the water with their child for a portion of the class.

Preschool Swim Lessons (ages 3-5 years)

This class is a transition class to help preschool children get comfortable in group lessons without a parent. Parents begin class in the water and throughout the session transition to children swimming with the instructor. Classes run as needed. Contact your local branch for more information.

In this class, children are taught skills that focus on buoyancy and movement in the water while also learning how to safely exit in the event of fall into a body of water.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles, (2) able to float on front and back with minimal assistance, (3) able to jump in the pool, submerge and return to the wall with assistance.

In this class, children focus on swimming longer distances. In the event of falling into a body of water, children learn how to swim to safety.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to float on front and back unassisted, (2) able to push off wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 feet unassisted, (4) able to jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted.

In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all the major competitive strokes are introduced.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to submerge and retrieve an object in chest deep water, (2) able to swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 yards, (4) able to jump in and tread water for 30 seconds, (5) able to swim to wall and exit.

Youth Swim Lessons (ages 6-12 years)

In this class, children are taught skills that focus on buoyancy and movement in the water while also learning how to safely exit in the event of fall into a body of water.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to go underwater and comfortably open eyes without goggles, (2) able to float on front and back with minimal assistance, (3) able to jump in the pool, submerge and return to the wall with assistance.

In this class, children focus on swimming longer distances. In the event of falling into a body of water, children learn how to swim to safety.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to float on front and back unassisted, (2) able to push off wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 feet unassisted, (4) able to jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted.

In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all the major competitive strokes are introduced.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to submerge and retrieve an object in chest deep water, (2) able to swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 yards, (4) able to jump in and tread water for 30 seconds, (5) able to swim to wall and exit.

In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all the major swim strokes are introduced.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to front crawl and back crawl 25 yards, (2) able to swim breaststroke kick and dolphin kick 15 yards, (3) able to tread water using multiple kicks for 1 minute.

In this class, children continue to work on their swimming stroke technique and all major competitive strokes are introduced.

Qualifications to be in this level: (1) able to swim front crawl with bent arm recovery and rotary breathing for 25 yards, (2) able to swim back crawl with stroke rotation for 25 yards, (3) able to swim butterfly with overarm recovery, (4) able to swim breaststroke for 25 yards achieving stroke rhythm, (5) able to dive from a kneeling position.

Porpoise Club is for youth ages 11-15 who have completed the YMCA swim levels 1-6. This class will enhance their existing skills and teach them more including: Lifesaving skills, personal safety and personal growth, competitive skills, snorkeling/skin diving, water sports, and volunteering opportunities.

2018 YMCA of Greater Hartford

The YMCA of Greater Hartford is a charitable association open to all and committed to helping people develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind and body.
This commitment is reinforced by our belief in living out universal values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.